How to Replace Shingle Wood

Identify the damaged shingle. Hold a chisel blade against the bottom edge and tap the handle with a hammer. Split away as much of the damaged shingle with the chisel as possible.

Slide a shingle ripper underneath the remaining pieces of the damaged shingle. Slide it to one side near the top and hook the end around one of the nails. You may have to slide it around it bit to find the nail. Hammer the handle of the ripper to pull or cut the nail off. Repeat this process for the second nail.

Pull out the remaining pieces of the damaged shingle so the space is clear of any debris. Slide the replacement shingle into the opening where you removed the damaged shingle.

Position a wood block at the bottom end of the shingle and tap it with a hammer to move the shingle into place. Leave approximately a 1/4-inch overhang at the bottom of the shingle. In other words, the bottom end should hang down 1/4 inch below the other shingles in the row.

Hammer two evenly spaced nails at the top end of the replacement shingle at a 45-degree angle into the roof just below the shingle above the replacement.

Place the wood block at the bottom of the replacement shingle, and tap it with a hammer to push the replacement shingle up the remaining 1/4 inch so it is even with the rest of the row. This will push the nails under the shingle above the replacement.